Golden Age of Detective Fiction

Molly Gray is a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. She’s highly dedicated to her work and takes immense pride in maintaining cleanliness and order. Molly’s way of seeing the world is unique; she struggles with social cues and takes things very literally, sometimes making her interactions with others awkward. Her peculiarities often lead to misunderstandings, making her the target of her coworkers’ jokes.

Molly’s life was once anchored by her beloved grandmother, who raised her and taught her how to navigate the complexities of social interactions. Since her grandmother’s death, Molly has felt adrift, finding solace only in her meticulously performed duties at the hotel.

One day, while cleaning the suite of the wealthy and influential Charles Black, Molly discovers his dead body. The circumstances of Mr. Black’s death are suspicious, and Molly’s odd behavior at the scene and her peculiar mannerisms make her a prime suspect in the eyes of the police.

As the investigation unfolds, Molly finds herself caught in a web of deceit involving hotel staff, guests, and the enigmatic second wife of the deceased, Giselle Black. With the help of a few unexpected allies, including her friend Mr. Preston, a hotel doorman, and Juan Manuel, a dishwasher with his own reasons for distrusting the police, Molly sets out to clear her name.

The novel explores themes of loneliness, trust, and the search for connection. Molly’s journey is about solving the mystery of Mr. Black’s death and finding her place in a world that often seems bewildering and hostile to her.

The Review

When I picked up The Maid by Nita Prose, I was immediately drawn into the unique and meticulously ordered world of Molly Gray, a hotel maid with a penchant for cleanliness and a struggle with social cues. What truly makes this book shine is its character study. Molly is a fascinating protagonist whose quirks and literal interpretation of the world are portrayed with such empathy and depth that I couldn’t help but root for her from the beginning.

Molly’s journey is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The way Prose delves into Molly’s mind, showing her vulnerabilities and strengths, makes her a character that lingers in your thoughts long after you turn the last page. The exploration of how easily the vulnerable can be taken advantage of is masterfully done. Molly’s interactions with the other characters, from her deceitful coworkers to the few who genuinely care for her, paint a vivid picture of a world that is often unkind to those who are different.

However, while the character development is superb, the mystery aspect of the novel is somewhat underdeveloped. The murder of Charles Black serves more as a backdrop to Molly’s personal story rather than the central focus of the narrative. As a fan of whodunits, I would like a more intricate plot with more grounded police investigation and more realistic characterization of the people who aren’t Molly or her gran. While the mystery became the focus in the book’s last chapters, it lacked the complexity I crave in a good mystery- everyone felt too good, kind, and willing to team up. There’s a Deus Ex Machina white knight lawyer who shows up to rally Molly’s defense.

Overall, the mystery lacks any real depth. The characters crystalize into wholly good or wholly bad, which is interesting since so much of the earlier tension is built over the shades of gray that Molly can’t interpret, except for Mrs. Black, who has a concealed twist at the end, which mirrors a struggle Molly faced earlier in the book that is revealed later to the reader in flashbacks.

The Maid is a compelling read, primarily because of Molly. Her quest to clear her name and make sense of the chaotic events around her is engaging and touching. The novel shows how Molly’s naivety and honesty, which often make her a target, also become her greatest strengths.

The Maid is an excellent character study that offers a poignant look at how society treats its most vulnerable members. While the mystery itself might not be as gripping as I had hoped, Molly Gray’s story is one that I won’t soon forget. If you’re looking for a novel that combines heart with a touch of intrigue, this one is worth a read.

Learn more about Nita Prose from her author website here.